Match book and method of making the same



Dec. 11, 1928.

Filed 001 16, 1925 INVENTORZ Patented Dec. 11', 1928.

1,694,199 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 0. 8111331, AUBURNDALE-FLUSKINQ NEW YORK.

IA'ICB 300! -.AND IITIIOD OI MAKING m sum.

Application 7 fled October This invention relates to what is commonlytermed as match books, consisting of a card arranged with splints havingignitible heads attached at a marginal connecting portion to 6 a sheetadapted to be folded over and serve as a closure for the card, and it isthe object of the invention to provide an im roved match book of thischaracter and met ind of making the same.

In match booksas heretofore constructed it is the practice to attachmatch cards to a flexible cover having relativel narrow and long foldsat the opposite on s, the narrow fol engaging over t e marginalconnecting rtion of the splints of the card and arrangmg the externalsurface thereof with an igniting material, the opposite long foldengaging over the splints of the card to constitute a closure flap andretained in match enclosing position by engagingv the end under the narrow fold. The igniting surface is arran ed on that portion of the narrowfold un er which the flap fold is engaged or at the front of the matchbook, and sliould'the flap fold be in o nfosition during the igniting ofthe matchb rawing it across the igniting surface it is possible for theflame of the lighted match to be transmitted to the matches in the coverigniting the same and the consequent burnin of the hand of the user. Inorder to avoi the possibility of such an occurrence there is a warningprinted on a conspicuous part of the match book to the effect that theclosure flap should be moved to match enclos- 86 in position beforestriking the match.

t is an object of the invention to provide an improved match bookconstructed and arranged to overcome the above disadvantages and wherebythe closure flap must be moved to match enclosing position before it ispossible to strike a match and thus obviate the liability of a matchcard becoming ignited by the striking of a match and consequent in'uryto the user, and to provide a-match boo of this character which isnovel, sim la in structure as compared to other mate books of thischaracter and thus cheaper to manufacture which is adesideratum in matchholders of this character. In the method of making match books of thischaracter it has heretofore been the ractice to provide a strip withsplints an arrange the free ends of the splints with ignitible heads,and then sever from said strips individual match cards of the desiredwidth 18, 1925. Serial 1'0. 62,732.

of the match books. Blanks to constitute the covers for the match cardsare then provided and complicated apparatus is necessary to quickly andefliciently assemble and attach the match cards relative to the coverblanks, and to fold the latter about the match cards.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method ofmaking match books to facilitate the quick and cheap assembling of thesame.

In carrying out the invention I rovide a strip or blank of material,prefera 1y heavy paper or cardboard and arrange said cardpard with rowsof splints extending oppo sitely from an intermediate connectin tionwith alternate splints offset laterally and then arrange the free endsof the s lints with ignitible heads, all of which may be done in theusual manner. I then provide a flexible cover material, such as paper,of a width substantially twice or slightly greater than twice the lengthof the splint arranged strip, which material may be in the form of asheet of a length the same as the width of the splint strip, or it maybe in the form of a web fed from a roll and portions severed from saidweb of a length equal to the width of the splint strip. The splint stripis then positioned relative to the cover material so that opposite sidemarginal portions of the covering material will extend be ond the s lintheads a distance substantia 1y one-ha f or sli htly greater thanone-half the length 0 the splint strip, when the composite sheet soformed is severed on a line intermediate the splint connecting portionof the s lint strip and transversely at predetermined points to providematch cards having closure covers combined therewith of the desiredwidth, after which the free ends of the cover strip are folded over thematch splints to serve as a closure flap portion.

The cover sheet or web is previousl provided with a match i tingsurface, t is being a coating of suita 1e composition and up phed in theform of a strip to the surface of the sheet at the outer marginalportion and to bi: at the outside when the cover sheet is folded overthe match cards. To facilitate the foldin of the sheet to form theclosure flap and w ereby the inherent tendency of the flap is to remainin closed position, the sheet or web is provided with longitudinal parallel and spaced weakened portions in the form of scoring lines arrangedat a distance within the lateral marginal side portions of the sheet orweb equal to one-half the length of the match card strip.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application Ihave shown an embodiment of my improved match books and the method ofmaking the same in which Figure 1 is a plan view, looking at the rear,of the sheet or web from which the match card covers are made.

Figure 2 is a view of a portion of the sheet shown in Figure 1 lookingat the front thereof with a portion of a match card strip at tachedthereto and showing the condition of the same previous to the severingof the composite sheet so formed into individual match books.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the composite sheet shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the individual match book severedfrom the composite sheet shown in Figure 2 and previous to the closureflap having been folded over a match card.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the match book shown in Figure 4 withthe closure flap partially moved to match card enclosing position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of my improved match book showing theclosure flap moved to match card enclosing position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated one or more juxtaposedmatch cards 7 of the usual arrangement and made of stiff paper orcardboard comprising splints extending laterally from an integralmarginal connecting portion and having the free ends arranged withignitible heads are attached to a cover or holder strip 8 of suitablematerial, such as stifi" paper or flexible cardboard, with the head ofthe marginal connecting portion of the match splints opposite to thematch heads parallel with the edge at one end of the cover strip, asshown at 9, the attaching means being shown as staples 10. The matchsplints extend inward from said end of the cover strip, the latter beingsubstantially of the same width as the match card and of a lengthsubstantially twice that of the match card, or of a length sufficienttobe folded over the. match heads and side of the match card opposite tothat which is in contiguous relation to said cover strip, whereby thelatter serves as a back for the match card while the portion extendingbeyond the match heads, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. constitutes aclosure flap for the match card. To conveniently ignite a matchseparated from the match card the cover strip is provided with anigniting surface, which is in the form of a coatin of igniting materialapplied in the form of a strip to the outer surface of the flap and atthe end marginal portion thereof, as shown at 14,

whereby in order to strike a match against said igniting surface toignite the match it is necessary that the fia be first closed over thematch card and there y avoid any possibility of the flame of the lightedmatch being transmitted to the match card in the holder and igniting ofthe same with a consequent burning of the hand of the user.

To facilitate the folding of the flap and adapt it to retain a foldedmatch card enclosing position, the cover strip is arranged withtransversely weakened portions which may be provided by a pair ofscoring lines extending transversely of the cover strip, one of which isadjacent to the heads of the match splints and the other scoring linespaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of thematch card or cards, as shown at 11.

In the method of making the individual match books shown in Figures 4, 5and 6 there is provided a match card strip embodying a plurality ofgroups of match cards 7 each strip embodying two rows of splintsextending oppositely from an intermediate connecting portion 12, thesecard strips being first formed as by intermittently feeding successivepredetermined portions of a web to suitable punching mechanism, aportion of the card strip intermediate the successive groups of splintsbeing removed from the strip simultaneously with the forming of thestrip with the splints for a purpose hereinafter described.

A sheet 13 of stitl paper or flexible cardboard, as shown in Figure 1,is then provided of a length substantially the same as the width of thematch card strip and of a width substantially the same or slightlygreater than twice the length of the match card strip. This sheet may besevered from a web intermittently fed from a roll of such material. Onone surface of the sheet, constituting the back of the match cardholders or carriers and at the opposite side marginal portions there isapplied a coating of igniting mate rial to serve as a striking surfacefor the matches, as shown at 14. The card is also provided withlongitudinal weakened portions in the form of two pairs of scored lines15 arranged in the face of the sheet opposite to that at which theigniting material 14 is applied and constituting the inner surface ofthe match card holders or covers. The innermost of these scored lines isarranged at a distance from the side edges of the sheet substantiallyequal to one-half the length of the match card strip and the outermostscored line being spaced therefrom a distance substantially e ual to thethickness of the match card or car s.

A match card strip, or two or more of said strips, are superposed on theholder or cover sheet 13 to extend longitudinally and centrally thereofso that a lateral marginal portion of the cover sheet will extend beyondthe match heads a distance equal to one-half the length of the matchcard strip, or of such length plus the thickness of the match card orcards, so that the match heads will be within the inner lines of thescored lines 15. The match card strip or strips are attached to thecover sheet in a suitable manner, shown as comprising staples 16arranged in spaced pairs transversely of the card strip. The compositesheet so formed of the match card strip and cover sheet is then severedlongitudinally on a line, as shown by dot and dash line 17 extendingintermediate the splint connecting portion 12 and the rows of staples,and on lines, indicated by dot and dash lines 18, extending transverselyof the composite sheet and intermediate the successive groups of matchsplints, and thus forming the composite sheet into individual matchbooks with the closure flaps in open position. To facilitate thetransverse severing of the match card strips and cover sheet and preventthe possible igniting of the match splint portions as shown at 19,intermediate the successive groups ofmatch splints are removed when thematch card strip is formed with the match splints. The flaps may then befolded over the front of the match cards, or the match books may bepacked in cartons in this condition the closure flaps to be folded overthe match card by the user.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precisemanner described of severing the composite sheet into individual matchbooks, since said sheet may be first severed transversely and theportions so separated then severed to form individual match books, orthe portions of the cover sheet 13 to constitute the closure flaps maybe first folded over the match card strip and the composite sheet thensevered to form the individual match books.

While Figures 4 to 6 of the drawing appear to show the striking surface14 as applied to a strip of material separate from the cover 8 thisstriking surface comprises an abrasive material applied in a fluid orplastic state to the web 13 and then permitted to dry.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a match book embodying a match cardincluding splints arranged with ignitible heads extending from aconnecting margin strip, and a cover to which said match card isattached with the edge of the margin strip contiguous to and inalinement with one edge thereof and the splints extending inward fromsaid edge of the cover and the cover being of a length to fold over thematch heads with the free end to extend over and substantially to theedge of the margin strip of the match card and having a coating ofigniting composition applied to the outer surface of the end marginalportion thereof to extend over the margin strip of the match card and ofa width substantially the width of said margin stri 2. As an article ofmanufacture a match book embodying a match card, a strip of flexiblematerial of a width substantially the same as the length of the card andof a length to fold over the match heads and extend the full length ofboth sides of the match card and attached at one end to the connectingstrip of the match card withthe edges of said end of the stripsubstantially in alinement with the edge of the connecting strip of thematch card whereby a portion of the cover strip at one side of the matchcard serves as a back therefor and the ortion of the cover strip at theopposite side of the match card serves as a closure flap, and a coatingof igniting composition applied to the flaparranged whereby said flapmust be folded to match card enclosing position to permit of thestriking of the outer surface of the free end of the match on saidigniting coating. 3. The method of making match books, which consists inproviding match cards having rows of splints extending oppositely froman intermediate connecting portion, attaching said cards in superposedrelation to a sheet of a width substantially twice the length of thecards with a lateral marginal portion thereof extending beyond the matchheads adapted to be folded over the match heads and extend to a pointintermediate the splint connecting portion of the cards, and thensevering said composite sheet longitudinally intermediate the splintconnecting portion of the cards and transversely.

4. The method of making match books, which consists in providing matchcards having rows of splints arranged with ignitible heads extendingoppositely from an intermediate connecting portion of the splints,providing a sheet of a length substantially the same as the Width of thematch cards and of a width twice the length of the match cards,attaching the match cards and sheet in superposed relation with oppositemarginal side portions of the sheet of a length substantially one-halfthe length of the match card extending beyond the match heads andadapted to be folded over the match heads to serve as a closure flap forthe match cards, and then severing the composite sheet so formed on aline intermediate the splint connecting portion of the match cards andtransversely at equidistantly spaced points to form a composite sheetinto individual match books.

5. The method of making match books, which consists in providing matchcards having rows of splints arranged with ignitible heads extendinoppositely from an intermediate portion of the splints, providing asheet lib.

of substantially twice the width of the length of the match cards havinga strip of igniting composition applied to one surface of the lateralmarginal portions, attaching the match cards to the side of the sheetopposite to that to which the igniting composition is applied andarranged intermediate the sides of the sheet whereby lateral portions ofthe sheet extend beyond and are adapted to be folded over the matchheads to serve as an enclosing flap therefor with the ignitingcomposition at the outer side, and then severing the composite sheet soformed transversely at equidistant points and longitudinally on a lineintermediate the splint connecting portion of the cards to form thecomposite sheet into individual match books.

6. The method of making match books, which consists in providing matchcards having rows of splints arranged with ignitible heads extendinoppositely from an intermediate portion 0 the splints, providing a sheetof substantially twice the width of the length of the match cards havinga strip of igniting composition applied to one surface at the lateralmarginal portions and arranging the sheet with two pairs of scoringlines at a distance from a line extending through the center of thesheet equal to one-half the width of the match cards, attaching themat-ch cards and sheet in superposed relation with the opposite marginalside including the scored portion of the sheet extending beyond thematch heads and adapted to be folded with the scored portion to extendtransversely of the match heads and the portions beyond the scoredportions to serve a match card enclosing flap with the ignitingcomposition on the outer surface of said flap, and then severing thecomposite sheet so .formed transversely of and intermediate the splintconnecting portion of the match cards to form individual match books.

2' The method of making match books, which consists in providing matchcards having rows of splints arranged with ignitible heads extendingoppositely from an intermediate connecting portion of the splints,attaching said cards to a cover sheet of a width substantially twice thelength of the cards with the lateral marginal portion of the sheet of alength substantially one-half the length of the match cards extendingbeyond the match heads, severing the composite sheet so formedintermediate the splint connecting portion of the cards, then severingpredetermined portions of the cards longitudinally of the splints, andthen folding the portion of the cover sheet extending beyond the matchheads over the card to form an enclosing flap.

8. The method of making match books. which consists in providing matchcards having two rows of splints arranged w th ignitible heads extendingoppositely from an intermediate portion of the splints, provid ing acover sheet of a width substantially twice the length of the matchcards, superposing the match cards and sheet with marginal portions ofthe sheet of a length substantially one-half of the length of the cardsextending beyond the match heads, attaching the cards to the sheet atthe intermediate portion of the splints by two rows of staples with thestaples equidistantly spaced apart, severing the composite sheet soformed interme diate the rows of staples and intermediate successivestaples, and then folding the portions of the cover sheet extendingbeyond the match heads over the match splints to serve as a closure flaptherefor.

9. The method of making match books as claimed in claim 8, wherein thecover sheet is arranged with two longitudinal weakened portions at apoint within the opposite side edges a distance equal to one-half thelength of the match cards, and the surface of the sheet opposite to thatat which the match cards are attached and at the lateral marginalportions being provided with a coating of igniting material.

10. The method of making match books, which consists in providing amatch card strip having groups of match splints extending laterally froma marginal connecting portion, providing a cover sheet of substantiallythe same length as the width of the match card strip and of a widthtwice the length of the match card strip, attaching the match card stripat the marginal portion to the cover sheet with the side portion of thecover sheet extending beyond the ends of the splints, and thenseparating the composite sheet so formed into individual match books.

Signed at city of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork this 14th day of October, 1925.

J OHN o. SEIFERT.

